I feel strongly that everything we do should be for the greater glory of God.  That is why when I wrote my children’s sewing instruction books, I made devotionals to go along with each one of them.  These devotionals incorporate aspects of each lesson into a  biblical teaching, and life skills.  They are just quick fun little analogies that really get you thinking about not only the sewing project, but also Godly principals for life.  It is so important to talk to our children in a way that they can relate to, and this is a great tool to use for the kids that are learning to sew. The instructionals and the devotionals also create a chance to have some quality bonding time and some real in-depth talks about God and your child's faith.

  The devotional’s are geared toward specific age and gender, each being slightly different.  They include songs, memory verses, words of wisdom and additional projects.  I am working on expanding my devotional line to include all of my sewing manuals.  There are sample pages and table of contents available at www.bunkhousesewing.com, so I invite you to come check it out!

I just wanted to post and let you all know about the fun activity that I did with my grandchildren.  I was experimenting with ideas for Operation Christmas Child, a program that our church is involved in each year, and found this.  Usually we do tie-dye tee-shirts and they always turn out really great as well as being a ton of fun, but this year we are going to do something new.  My grandchildren and I started out with solid color tee-shirts (we had green) then we hunted through the yard for leaves of all shapes and sizes.  We laid the tee-shirts down flat outside, in the sunshine, and then they placed the leaves all over them.  I had previously mixed up a water/bleach solution in a spray bottle and when they had their leaves arranged they sprayed the shirts with the solution.  Then we just let the bleach and the sun do the work.  When the shirts are dry you remove the leaves and you get the most wonderful, almost camouflage like pattern!  All the grandbabies love both the activity and the tee’s, and I can’t wait to introduce it to all of the kid’s who help out in the Operation Christmas Child program at our church.

After we finished our leaf pattern shirts I realized that you could really use almost anything to make a print out of, like letter magnets for names or messages, or school supplies for a themed tee,  shells for an ocean shirt, anything that wouldn’t be damaged with the bleach water. We tried an alternative to tie-dying, called "reverse dying"  (that's the shirt in the first photo below), which involves buying a colored tee then tying (actually rubber banding) it just like you would a white shirt that was going to be tie-dyed,  then you run it though your washing machine with bleach water, and it comes out in a reverse tie-dye which is a fun, and different way to do the project.  These are all great activities for the whole family and I encourage you to try them out!  The photo on the right, below, show some of the shirts they kids tie dyed  last year.

I just wanted to put a little info in here about Operation Christmas Child, just in case any of you aren’t familiar with it.  It is a program geared at bringing gifts to children around the world that other wise would have no way to celebrate the Christmas season.  Gifts are sent in shoeboxes, filled full with items they can use, wear, or have fun with. There is more information available at the Samaritan's Purse web site, along with guide lines on the shoeboxes and idea’s of what to fill them with. 

We've just complete our newest book:  "Sewing and Quilting Activity Book"

This is a  fun filled activity book that will keep you in stitches for a while with dot to dot pictures, coloring, mazes and word searches.  The book has 28 full pages of puzzles, is written for for ages 6 - 12 and includes a couple of sewing projects, plus math puzzles and drawing!  My desire is that this will help build a child's love of sewing and that he/she will learn a few skills along the way.

Do you teach more than one childat a time?  I have found this to be an excellent resource to motivate your faster students and keep their hands busy and learning while giving you time to work with other students..

Sewing can teach a child so many skills!  This book offers pages that reinforces creativity and color coordination; learning math and measurements; drawing; critical thinking skills; and sewing knowledge and application. All children learn in different ways...and this book is simply another means of inspiring, challenging, and teaching that sewing can be fun!  Be sure to check it out at our website.

My two granddaughters, Ruth and Hannah were recently dedicated at church.  I was thrilled that my daughter was able to adjust the gown she was dedicated in to fit the youngest one, Hannah. 

I designed it with a high yoke abd puffy sleeves with elastic and lace edging, detailing the yoke with cute buttons, beading lace across the yoke and over the armholes, and pink ribbon trim.  There were three layers to the skirt with the slip underneath, a straight underskirt with an eyelet flounce and the top layer with a wide curved flounce.  The flounces were all set off with the beading lace and pink ribbon.  The length was perfect, so Corrie only needed to  extend the Velcro back and make the elastic in the sleeves a bit longer.  She finished up by embroidering Hannah’s name and dedication date on the back underskirt.

Corrie designed this dress and pinafore for Ruth, her oldest daughter.  The square necked pinafore with machine embroidery and lace shaping on the front, reaches the waist and adds lots of  lace edged gathers around the armholes.  The band sports regular sewing machine stitches in the light pink. 

The dress has a sweet lace edged color, puffy gathered sleeves and full skirt, with a scalloped and lace trimmed bottom edge.   She used lace insertions and machine embroidery with hearts, flowers and bows throughout for a darling outfit.   Beautiful dresses for a very special day.

Looking for Christmas ideas?  Last Christmas I made a bean bag for the grandchildren.  It has certainly been the funnest, most entertaining,  longest lasting, eveyone loves it, gift!  

It is so comfy because I used 2 bags of shredded foam for each bag of bean pellets.  That makes it soft as well as substantial.  I made an interlining from muslin, in case some stitching might snap in usage, thus the double protection from dealing with a mess of pellets.  The shape of the pattern was adjusted to make it more "round", utilizing 6 side panels (in red, yellow and blue) and adding a top circle of green to match the botton base circle, which contains a zipper across the center diameter.  This enables the outer fabric shell to be washed if needed. All seams were double stitched and topstitched.   The bag did end up a bit costly - but I purchased the 3 sacks of bean pellets and 6 bags of shredded foam with coupons, and of course the cotton duck fabric was purchased on sale as well. 

My daughter tells me they play on it all the time. And when the kids aren't using it - mom and dad are!   It takes center stage in their living room.  I sure love to see my grandbabies having fun!

My daughter, Corrie, recently completed dresses for the Lavendar Festival.  This is the occasion when they take their family picture out in the beautiful fields.   Her style this year for the darling dresses was to add an insert, such as you would see in smocking, using instead the embroidery stitches on her machine.

Most everyone has machine embroidery stitches on their machines, which we seldom use.  The main thing to remember when doing embroidery is to use some type of stabilizer on the back.  It can be as simple as typing paper (you'll need to change your needle more often), or a purchased stabilizer.  We prefer a washaway stabilizer so we can dip it in water and its gone, rather than having to pick it out from behind the embroidery stitches.

The first step is to determine the width you would like the band to finish.  This will vary according to the size of your child.  Cut the band fabric about 2" wider than finished size and 2" longer than the bodice front waistline width.  Draw your lines onto the band with a wahout marker.  Stitch the middle embroidery first - which should be a balanced stitch.  Then stitch the same embroidery on each side of the middle.  If these are not balanced, be sure to either reverse the stitch or begin from the opposite end of your strip so the two will look balanced.  You can make as many rows and use different colors to pick up the colors in the dress.

She only cuts a front collar, making the pattern directly from the front bodice piece, exactly the same size and shape.  She shapes the scalloped edge of the collar by drawing her design with washout marker onto her fabric, and using the machine scallop embroidery pattern with  a wide zig-zag.  Cut and lay together, 2 pieces of collar fabric at least 2" longer and 2" wider than the finished size.  With washout marker, draw the shoulder and neckline cutting edge, and the shape you have chosen for the scalloped edge.  Stitch out the scallops.  Fray check from the bottom side.  After the fray check is dry, with scissors, carefully cut around the bottom edge.  The collar can then be laid over the bodice front and sewn into the shoulder and neckline seams.  You have a darling collar, that doesn't flip up on you.

Have fun with your sewing...don't be afraid to try something new.  Learn to use all your machine has to offer you.

"Catch the Sewing Bug, 25 Fun and Simple Projects" is now in print!  Younger children always want to sew, and we tend to think they're too young.  It was my desire to put together a book of simple, do-able, fun sewing projects, that with the help of mom, they can make and be successful with.

This  book, designed for younger hands working with adult ones, is written in such a way that adults with no sewing skills can easily work their way through it.  Each project builds upon skills learned in an earlier one, and by the time the child finishes the book, she not only has fair repertoire of basic sewing skills, but also a large boxful of useful, fun things that she has made.  It is amazing how much even the youngest child, with a caring adult, a good machine, and this book, can do!

My 3 year old grandson has successfully made a tote bag from a placemat, and his own "tractor"  (fabric) pillowcase.  He's so proud of them - packed them around all day, and has to show everybody.  I held Luke on my lap, with me running the foot control.  I let him lift the presser foot lever up and down, run the backstitch button, and pretty much guide the fabric.  Of course at that age he isn't capable of doing it all, but he loved what he did and we're cultivating the love of sewing and creating.  Be sure to check out "Catch the Sewing Bug" on my website, and also sign up for the "free tips for sewing with children" to make the time you spend with them at the machine more enjoyable for all.

I'm a grandmother again!  With Hannah Lyn making her way into the world, I now boast 3 beautiful granddaughters, and a wonderful grandson.  There is nothing more precious than grandchildren. 

Thought I'd share this story about my daughter, Corrie.  I was visiting about 1 1 /2 weeks after Hannah was born.  Corrie, baby and family, along with grandma and grandpa, had spent most of the day shopping and sight seeing.  By 3:00 I came home exhausted!  When I got up from my nap, I found my daughter in the sewing room...busy making a dress for Hannah to match a dress for her sister, Ruth, and a dress Corrie had made for herself!  She only had 3 hours before the baby shower that night!  Here's a picture of Ruth in her dress:

The three of them looked wonderful in their matching outfits that evening.

Here is another view showing the sleeve and back tie detail.  She combined a couple patterns from out of our heirloom sewing book "Pintucks & Lace, Using Heirloom Techniques on Today's styles".

 I’ve never thrown away a pattern since I was a child!  And I am one of those persons that picks up older patterns at yard sales.  It’s not as bad as you think – they are all organized!  And I am constantly drawing upon my stash (of patterns, that is).  For example, I made my granddaughter, Grace, a Christmas dress from a 20 year old Daisy Kingdom pattern that I had made a dress for my daughter from.  Here she is…can’t wait to see it with dress shoes and a bow at the neckline!  She loves the dress – it has a ‘twirl’ skirt and puffy sleeves (she doesn’t like long sleeves). Because of the snowman theme, she will be able to wear it all winter long.

I’m not much into today’s styles,  I want girls to look like girls – modest and pretty. Because of this I go to my stash quite often.  I can usually find a pattern close to what I want, whatever the occasion, and then adjust, or “flat pattern” from there.  In fact, I have 4 other dresses cut out to sew up for my granddaughters before Christmas - and three of these patterns are 30 years old.  I consider my “stash” one of my most useful, time and money saving resources.

Of course, I do have a fabric “stash”, too…

I finally finished the quilts I’ve been working on for the grandchildren this Christmas. You saw Luke’s earlier – the “Frog” quilt,  Grace (5 years old) will have a twin bed size “Bear” quilt;  Ruth (18 months) will have a 32” square “Bunnies” quilt to drag around, and my newest (2 weeks old), will get a crib size “Ducky” quilt.

All of the quilts are dimensional.  The individual pieces for the animals were sewn together and then foundation pieced into blocks.  I double stitched all the loose pieces…ears, legs, pockets, etc. for extra strength as the child plays with them.  All the basic quilt patterns were purchased from thimble-art.com.  Each pattern has been adjusted to fit the necessary size for each child.  I used “Minkie” on the back side of all the quilts – it’s sooooo soft!  The only place I found to purchase it was at Craft Warehouse….and it is a bit expensive…in the $15 – $18 range. 

If you do not have an embroidery machine and would like to personalize your quilts, may I suggest a couple alternatives.  Back in March, I promised you pictures and information on my scripture quilt from which I purchased preprinted panels from Canyon Creek Fabrics (208-937-2631) at Sewing Expo this spring.  Along with the scriptures, they have several other themed panels.

As an alternative to purchasing panels, you can create your own designs on your home computer with fonts, clipart, and pictures.  June Tailor has computer printer fabric, with either white or muslin backgrounds, that you can feed through your inkjet or laser printer. The fabric is adhered to a paper backing, and you can just peel it off after printing.  Complete instructions are included. You may purchase this printer fabric at most any fabric store.

I have also successfully used the HP iron-on transfers.  They work beautifully, and I believe give a better finish, plus you have the added advantage of being able to apply them to any fabric background.  I purchase my transfer paper from Staples – I’m sure other office supply stores carry it as well.

The transfers and computer paper make wonderful quilt projects for students…who are into the computer!  And what fun it is to design the rest of the quilt around the blocks – which can be cut to any shape!  Just take a piece of graph paper and start drawing!  Cut the pieces to size (one square equals 1 inch- or whatever to make it the size you want it to finish) and just remember to add ¼” seam allowance on all the edges of the piece before cutting.

 You can truly create a one of a kind, personalized quilt that will be cherished forever!

Whew! My latest book is finally being printed. While everything has gone smoothly with all my other books, this one decided to be difficult! We thought all was fine until we had a bit of trouble converting from one program to another - technical things like that. Fortunately, it's all worked out and I can breathe a contented sigh of relief.

This book teaches how to recreate heirloom techniques with your sewing machine so that you can incorporate them into whatever you choose to make. It's really been a fun book to do.

So...what do you think? (Yes, I had to show off the grandkids!)

You can see more pictures of the book and some of the project included HERE.

Right now I'm working on taking some of the individual projects from my other books and quilts and turning them into e-books. I've never tried anything like this before so it's kind of exciting!

Boy! Can you tell I've been busy! I promised to tell you about the second booth that caught my eye at the Sewing Expo and that was nearly two weeks ago!

I do have a good excuse (hehe)! Corrie (daughter) and her family were here for a week and just left. We had a wonderful time, but I'm just a bit tired! The grandkids are wonderful!

While she was here we took photos for our new heirloom book. It should go to press next week and be available the first part of August. (More about that later)

So...back to the Sewing Expo. The second booth that caught my eye - after the 3-D quilt booth - was Block Party Studies, Inc. They have a variety of scripture quilts, ustin the quilt-as-you-go technique, and can easily be made in an afternoon.

These would be a great project for a girl's beginning quilting class...I think the project could be finished in three 3 hr. sessions. I'm planning to make these up for my mother and mother-in-law. I also picked up daughter quotes to make for my daughter and daughter-in-law.

I'll have to share the pictures as I get them finished.

Have a wonderful week!

JoAnn Gagnon

See my website for FREE sewing tips & projects.

A major event in my year is the annual Sewing Expo in Puyallup. The expo is always the first week in March and lasts four days. It's the largest sewing expo in the nation and quite affordable with an entry fee of $8 and a mere $3 to attend a class.

It is here that my daughter and I have learned many "industry secrets". For instance, we've learned to make EASY welt pockets and been introduced to lots of nifty tools. Corrie and I attend different classes and combine notes later. (Double your fun!)

We would attend every year, keeping up on what's new. If you're planning to attend you'll want to allow at least two days to fit in the classes you like. There are tons to choose from and a HUGE exhibit floor to browse.

This year, two booths in particular caught my eye. The first was a booth with dimensional quilts. I decided to make one of these quilts for each of my grandchildren for Christmas this year. Luke gets frogs, Grace will have bears and Ruth gets bunnies.

These are fun quilts. Part of an arm or leg is sewn in and the rest hangs free. The frog has a pocket in his belly. (The others didn't but I'm incorporating that idea into the other two quilts. The patterns are available at www.thimble-art.com

Here is a bit of info. on the quilt I made for Lukey (cute, isn't he?).

This quilt was made inexpensively using fabrics from Walmart. My quilt is in bright primary colors and green. I changed the pattern a bit and framed the frogs. I also added and changed the size of the frogs to cover and outline the top of his bed. The bugs and border cover the sides.

I stiple quilted around the frogs and bugs for extra strength as we know how little boys love to play with things! I quilted stars in the other blocks. This did take a bit longer than a normal quilt. I made all the individual pieces before assembling. The frogs are supposed to foundation pieced but I cut pieces for the background and simply pieced them.

Lukey's mom has given me the freedome to decorate his room so I will continue with this theme for birthdays as well as Christmas....he'll get a primary colored bean bag chair with his name and frogs on it, some from print pajamas and a frog bank! Can you tell I'm the kind of person that likes to plan ahead?

Next update, I'll share about the other booth that caught my eye.

Have a wonderful week!

JoAnn Gagnon

Find free sewing tips and projects at my website Bunkhouse Sewing!

Those of you who read my blog know that my son was recently married and that I have promised pictures of the bride's dress. My daughter, Corrie, created the dress as a wedding gift to the couple. The tone-on-tone embroidery work is quite stunning, though a bit difficult to capture in pictures.

Corrie designed the dress and I made one up from muslin. I sent the mulsin dress back to her. Using the muslin dress as a pattern, Corrie made the actual dress without even a fitting. Melanie, the bride, didn't see it until three days before the wedding!

The dress was 100% linen, fully lined, with princess lines. It was accented with gorgeous ton-on-tone embroidery with Sulky thread. Melanie looked gorgeous!

The hemline was a dipped scallop hem that Corrie maxi stitched on her machine. She hooped it with a stabilizer, applied a fray check and trimmed next to the stitching. She then repeated a machine embroider desing around the skirt.

For the neckline, she adapted the machine embroidery design, making it smaller for the area. She zigzagged in two different stitch widths in a ribbon look design to travel around the neckline. She made piping of the dress fabric and piped the sweetheart neckline with dips in a "v" shape in the back.

On the sleeves, she used a full embroidery with the ribbon look zigzag above and below the design. She used a different dipped scallop along the bottom of the sleeve as well as a star stitch in diagonal on the underside of the sleeve.

As you can see Melanie looked gorgeous in a beautifully simple dress that fit her style perfectly. Very classy!

Corrie just got in some pictures of a period costumed she designed and created so I hope to put that up next. Please let me know if you have any specific questions or if there are topics you would like me to blog about.

Happy Sewing!! JoAnn

Find free sewing tips & activities at my website www.bunkhousesewing.com

I've had several emails recently asking for my recommendations on sewing machines.

I sew on a Pfaff and love my machine. I used my basic machine over 20 years for a sewing business, and taught lots of kids to sew on it, without a breakdown or replacing any parts. I now use an upper end Pfaff. Pfaff has the only machines with a dual feed feature (teeth attached to the presser foot to grip the top piece of fabric as well as teeth on the bottom to feed the fabric through) which is wonderful if you sew quilts or anything with thickness, as well as for sheers or any 'slick' type fabrics becasue it helps to keep the fabric from creeping. I've used other machines, helped kids who were using other machines, and still prefer the Pfaff machines.

The overriding factor in your choice would be: What does your local dealer sell? Most dealers offer you free lessons and classes, discounts on store supplies, etc. when you purchase your machine from them. It is certainly advantageous to have a local dealer if you run into problems with your machine. You can purchase an add-on walking foot for most any machine. It won't run as smoothly and is a lot noisier than the Pfaff built-in dual feed, however it gives you the same advantages.

Hope this helps, JoAnn

Oh, those wedding dress pictures really ARE coming! I promise.